Sausage stuffing apparatus



April 4 1950 A. G. WEIER `2,502,611

sAUsAGE STUFFING APPARATUS ATT'YS.

April 4, 1950 A. G. wen-:R 1 l 2,502,611 SA-USAGE STUFFING APPARATUSFiled March 15, 194e v e sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.'

ANTON G. WEIER April 4, 1950 y G. wElER 2,502,611

sAusAGE STUFFING APPARATUS *9/ MMM A lv "a HT 5 INVENToR.' ANTON G.WEIER April 4, 1950 A. G. wEu-:R

sAUsAGE STUFFING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1946 6 sheets-sheet 4INVENTOR: 3 ANTON G. WElER ATT'vs.

April 4, 1950 Filed March 15, 1946 A. G. WEIER 2,502,611

INVENTOR.'

ANTON G. WEIER ATT'YS.

April 4, 1950 NG APPARATUS INVENTOR: ANTON G. WEIER Patented Apr. 4,1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAUSAGE STUFFIN G APPARATUS Anton G.Weier, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 15, 1946, Serial No. 654,625

11 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for stuffing ground meat into sausagecasings. Under the present practice the meat mass issuing from thechopper or grinder is deposited in portable containers, known as boxes,these being transported to locations adjacent to the stufling machines.Here the meat dough is removed from the containers by hand, implementsin the nature of shovels being employed, and deposited into the stuffingmachines.

It is apparent that the above process entails a tedious and laboriousoperation to transfer the meat dough from the containers into thestuffing machines, and it is therefore my main object to provide anapparatus which eliminates the handling of the meat dough after it hasbeen deposited in a container and moved to the location where the stungis done.

A further object is to devise an apparatus which combines the meat doughcontainer with a machine directly operable to extrude the contents ofthe container into the stuing zone.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above character inwhich units in the container and extruding machine co-act to join themoperatively when assembled and restore the container to its independentform when separated.

An important object is to design the novel apparatus for a largecapacity while using a minimum of manual labor or attention.

With the above objects in View and any others which may suggestthemselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of theinvention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus showing the meat doughcontainer in the zone of the stufng machine, but not joined with thesame;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the ,line 2-2 of Fig. 3 andshowing the container joined to the stuffing machine;

Fig. 3 is a rear end View of the apparatus, as seen from the right-handside of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line ll--ll of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a magnified section, broken away Ain places, on the line 5-5of Fig. 4, and pertaining to a zone substantially midway between therear and front ends of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a'magnied section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is aside view of the meat dough container;4

Fig. 8 is a left-hand end view of Fig. 7, partly in section;

Figs. 9 and 10 represent a detail in the lateral portions of thecontainer, showing changes of position;

Figs. 11 and 12 are similar views of a detail in the bottom portion ofthe container;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a lifting unit;

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the same;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line |5-I5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a locking device seen in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 17 is an enlargement of the lower central portion of Fig. 2,showing the application of the said locking device.

In accordance with the foregoing, specic reference to the drawingsindicates the base of the apparatus as a pair of long angle bar's 20disposed in laterally-spaced relation and with hollows facing outwardly.Approximately half-way toward the front the angler bars are spaced by across plate 2| formed with base flanges 22 -for the application of bolts23 to secure the crossplate to the floor or other surface on which theapparatus is placed. An end plate 24 similar to the cross-plate 2l isapplied in the same manner at the front end of the apparatus.

A oor plate 25 is located between the angle bars 20 near the rear end ofthe apparatus, such oor plate supporting a pair of angle bars 26positioned inwardly of and similarly to the angle bars 20. However, theangle bars 26 are intended to serve as tracks for the side wheels 21 ofthe meat dough container 28.

The meat dough container 28 is a tub-like vessel having a rear end wall29, side walls 30 and a iront end wall 3 l As seen in Fig. 8, thecontainer has side lugs 32 near the middle receiving driven spindles 33on which the wheels 21 are freely centered. The container also has acaster fork 34 at the rear for a center wheel 35. A handle 36 projectsrearwardly from the wall 29 for the manual propulsion of the container28 between the meat grinding location and the present apparatus, andFig. 1 indicates that the container has been wheeled onto the tracks 26.I

The apparatus is alsoA designed to receive a table top 37, such topresting on a pair of upper angle bars 38 similar to the base angle bars20 and directly above the same. The bars 38 are supported by two pairsof posts 39 rising from the langle bars 20, and passing through theangle bars 38 as screws to receive securing nuts 40. While the posts maybe secured to the angle bars .'20 in any suitable manner, Fig. 4 showsthat they are preferable forked to receive the upward wings of such barsand receive cross-rivets 4| to secure the joints therewith.

While the container 28 is open at the top when it is wheeled into theposition of Fig. 1, it is intended to receive a cover 42 carried by thetable top 31 by being raised to meet the cover as shown in Fig. 4. Forthis purpose the platform 43 of a lifting unit is located at a clearinglevel below the containeras thellatter is wheeled into place, Theplatform is carried by a piston'4'4 operating hydraulically in acylinder 45 rising from the floor plate 25; and Figs. 2 to 4 show thatthe container 28 has been raised to meet the cover :42. lMeans foroperating the hydraulic lift have not been illustrated, being optional.With a packingstrip 4E carried by the bottom edge ofthecover, it is nowapparent that the container becomes closed on being lifted as described.

While the container 28 is still open at the top, andbefore-itfiswheeledonto-.the tracks 26,;means are provided to temporarily hold the :frontend Wall.3| in place. Figs. 7 and :8 show that Vthe bottom ',o-i thevcontainer 2,8"receives 'a' transverse,

T-shaped spring blade 47, more clearly shownin d Figs. 12 and 16, theouter end Vof the blade being fast to the container and the -inner onecarrying a pair of'upward studs 48 receiving the -bottom portion of the.endfwall 3| between them. -Each side ywall `of the container alsoreceives an L-.shapedfspring blade l49 whose vlower portionis secured tothe wall as indicated at T50 'in .-Fig. '7, and whose :upper portion hasa lpair of studs 5| projecting ,through the :container side wall toyreceive the corresponding portion of the `end wall 3| 1betWeen-them.This wall 'is thus retained in three Aplaces lto lhold its `verticalposition, and 4the container cannow be loaded with a mass of themeatdoughandstarted ion its way to'the tracks 26.

The-forward progress .of the container over the tracks 26 nds :alimitwhen the'end wall 3| meets a: massive crosshead;52. With thecontainer sides, bottomand cover extended beyond the end wall 3|,it isseen from Fig. 2-that when ther-container is lifted as previouslystated, the crosshead 52 will become `pocketed within the front -end ofthe container.

The lifting of the container is designed lto disconnect the end wall 3|from vthe three'retaining zones previously described, and attach it tothe cross head52. A devicetodo this-in the bottom zone is a projection53 from the cross-plate 2|. Fig. 7 shows that one arm 41a lof .thespring blade 4l projects Yfrom the front end of the container. Thus,asthe latter rises to the Aelevated position, sucharm meets and is heldback by the projection 53, withdrawing the studs 48 fromthe full-lineposition of Figs.- l3 and ll to the dotted'line position of Fig. 8 andthe full-l-i-ne-position o'f Fig. l2 tobelush with the inside of thecontainer bottom. At the same timedevices to disconnect the end wall 3ialong lthe sidesfbecom-e'active. Thus, wedges-53a carried by the angle:bars 38 bea-rout- Wardly on the'spring blades -4|3'to retract `thernfrom the positionfof Figs. 8` and.9 to'that of Fig. 10,-or ush with theinner sides'of the container Walls.

While the endwall 3| Yhasbecome freed from the container bottom and sideWalls by vthe above action, means operate concurrently to attach the endwall to thecrosshead 52. Thusl the end wall basa-pair of upward hooks 54atthe bottom and a pair of slots 55: at the top. `The hooks 54aremitiarlly below a pair vofslots 56 in the bottom of the crosshead;and the slots 55 are in line with a pair of hooks 51 projectingrearwardly from the upper portion of the crosshead. Thus, when thecontainer is lifted, the hooks 54 engage the slots 55 and the slots 55receive the hooks 5l', anchoring the end wall to the crosshead as shownin Fig. 5.

With the end wall 3| freed from the side walls and bottom of thecontainer, the crosshead 52 may be moved towardthe right .according .toFig. 2, to-bear on the mass of meat dough in the container. The rear end42a of the cover 42 has a valves 59 which are extended with theconventional' type of nozzles 60 for filling sausage casings.

The mechanism .for operating the crosshead 52 involves a largehorizontal cylinder 6| tted between the cross-plate 2| and the end plate24, tie bolts 52 being applied to hold the assembly to gether.The-cylinderzcontainsa piston 63 operated by-c'ompressedrair or arhydraulic medium. Terminal air .or uidfconnections y|34 and65 .areindicated for impartinga reciprocating-.movement tothe piston, suitablecontrols being employed but not-shown.

Fig. 5 shows that `the end walli3| doesnot'reach to the cover of the-containenbut Ythat the crosshead 5-2 rises yclose vtothe same. However,the crosshead is designed to make'aseal with such cover by meansindicated in the ligure-referred to. Thus, the crossheadis made `With vatransverse cavityl $5 surmounted by a. rubber strip 5l. Thelatterisseoured byredge clamping `plates 58 and screws .69 -to thecrosshead. .Figz shows that the rod 'Hl-of the piston B-3is tubular andattached eo Athe crossheadat its free end. Thus, the corn--- pressed airor other motive mediumior the piston Aalso lls the rod T0. Figs. .2 Aand5 yshow that a vtube 1| leads from the rear end portion of the rod tothe cavity 6-6, such 4tube carrying-standard equipment-comprisingsadialpressuregage 'I2 and a ypressure regulator 13. The amount of pressure inthe cavity-66 -can .thus be regulated Yto properly .appl-y the sealingstrip B1 to thecover 42 while the crosshead assembly moves rearwardly inthe container. This movement supplies the meat dough constantly orperiodically at a desired rate to the dispensing rvalves 59,either orboth of which may be used, according to thedernand. Thus, the containerbecomes a large-supplysource for the sausage stuffing zone, enabling agreat number of casings to be filled before the container becomes empty.

While the rate of :extrusion `in the container may be regulated by4controlling the-motive medium for the piston |3,:the tendency for airpressure to accumulaterin the-container onthe advance of 4the crossheadmay-be counteracted at times by relief valves '|4 fitted in the rear end42a of thecover 42. Asshown in Fig. 6, these valves are ofthe poppettype and. havestems 15 passing through a reinforcement TE of the saidend wall, the latter havinggrooves on opposite sides of the Vvalve stems|5 to permit theescape of air from the container when the valves areopen. Fig. 6 shows that the rear-end 42a carries a rubber strip42bforming` a seal between the container wall'29'and the'sai'd rear end.

The lifting platform 43 is suiiiciently narrow to clear the innerends'ofthe Vside wheel spindles 33; and the-platform isbuilt upwith side walls'i8 designed to reinforce the container sidewalls 38-againsti'the:pressure of fthe meat dough Vduring the extrusion process.The side walls 30 are held against separation near the front ends by anarched tie bar 18a shown in Figs. 5, 'l and 3. Fig. 5 also shows thatthe cover 42 is recessed at 42e tov sink the crown of the tie barsufficiently to clear the passing crosshead 52 when the container is inthe raised position. Fig. 14 shows that the platform walls 18 are formedwith clearance slots 19 for the wheel lugs 32 and with frontal uppercorner clearances 80 for the spring blades 49; and the platform walls 18carry brackets 8l presenting shoes 82 slidable along the inner sides ofthe posts 39. Thus, the latter form guides for the walls of the platformduring its rise; and when the platform walls encase the container walls,as per Fig. 4, the posts 39 form a backing for the platform walls toresist the expansive pressure of the meat dough as induced by theadvance of the crosshead 52. The rear end wall 29 is externallyreinforced against such pressure by angle cleats 83 bound by a tie bolt84.

It is noted that the lifting platform has a pair of upward hooks 85rising from its rear end to overlap the rear end of the container bottomduring the lifting action and back the container against the pressure ofthe crosshead 52. Fig. 13 shows that the rear edge of the platform isrecessed at 86 to clear the caster fork 34 of the center wheel 35. Thelatter enters a channeled track 81 extended from the floor plate 25 whenthe container is Wheeled into the machine, such track having an upwardturn 88 as a terminus against the excessive advance of the container.The platform 43 is also recessed at 89 in its forward edge to alford aclearance for the pincarrying arm of the T-shaped spring blade 41.

It is noted that the crossplate 2l and the end plate 24 have facing webs9| for purposes of reinforcement; and the cross-plate may be reinforcedby other connections to the tracks and the oor plate 25 to resist thepressure imposed on the container 28 on the active or rearward movementof the crosshead 52. The hydraulic lifting unit 45 is also reinforced bybolts 92 rising from the floor plate 25 through cross-webs 93 connectedto the tracks 25.

It should be apparent without further detail that the lowering of thelifting platform 43 will cause the end Wall 3l to become disconnectedfrom the crosshead 52 after the latter has fully 'f receded from itsworking stroke, and to again become connected to the container, so thatthe latter will rest on the tracks in a position to be withdrawn andwheeled away for another filling. It goes without saying that a numberof containers may be employed and held in readiness for consecutiveconnection to the machine, so that the latter may be kept in action witha minimum amount of interruption.

It is now evident that the novel apparatus de parts from theconventional practice of removing the meat dough by hand or other meansfrom one container into another having the extruding and stuing means.In the present case the original container of the meat dispensed by thegrinder forms both a large capacity reservoir and a presscomponent incooperation with the power extruding mechanism. Further, the apparatusis compactly grouped with the container under the table top stufng zone,so that no extra room is required or taken up by the apparatus. Further,the connection between the container and the extruding mechanism isautomatically made by the simple operation of the lift, and no othercontrol or attention is required before the power for the extrudingmechanism is turned on. The apparatus can therefore be attended andoperated without the need of skill. Finally, it is evident that theapparatus is an assembly of simple parts which are reinforced wherevernecessary and operate on proven mechanical principles.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minorchanges or refinements may be made therein without departing from itsprinciple, and I reserve the right to employ such changes and renementsas may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

, I claim: l

l. A machine forv extruding material of softmass consistency comprisinga container for the material having one end offset to form a recess and.a closure removable from said end, a 'cylinder and piston including aplunger crosshead opposite said end and receivable in said recess, meansto free said end closure from the container and mount it on the innerside of the crosshead, a material outlet at the other end of thecontainer, and means to operate the crosshead between said ends to`force material within the container through the material outlet.

2. A machine for extruding material of softmass consistency comprising acontainer for the material having one endl offset to form a recess and aclosure removable from said end, a cylinder and piston including aplunger `crosshead opposite said end and at a higher level, pressureoperated means to elevate the container to receive the crosshead in saidend in position to force material from the container, second meansoperative upon elevation of the container to free said end closure fromthe container and mount it on the inner side of the crosshead, amaterial outlet at the other end of the container, and means to operatethe crosshead between said ends to force material within the containerthrough the material outlet.

3. The structure of claim 2, the top of the container being originallyopen, a table above the crosshead and adapted to receive the containerunderneath, a cover carried by the under side of the table in a positionto close the rim of the container when the latter is elevated, and meansto seal the cover to said rim.

4. The structure of claim 2, the top of the container being originallyopen, a table above the crosshead and adapted to receive the containerunderneath, a cover carried by the under side of the table and designedto close the top of the container when the latter is elevated, aflexible rim for the crosshead opposite said cover, and a duct from saidcompressed-air drive effective to expand said rim into a seal with thecover when the container is in the elevated position.

5. The structure of claim 2, said second means including a spring bladecarried by the bottom of the container and presenting a pair of pins onboth sides of the bottom portion of said closure, and a fixed stop inthe path of said blade when the container is elevated, such stop beingeiective to ex the blade and withdraw said pins from the region of saidbottom portion.

6. The structure of claim 2, said second means including a spring bladecarried underneath by the bottom of the container and projecting a pairof pins through such bottom to positions on opposite sides of the bottomportion of said closure, and a fixed stop in the path of said blade whenthe container is elevated, such stop being effective to flex the bladeand withdraw said pins from. said positonsxftocleartheinterior of thecontainer. y

7. The structureof claim 2,-said-secondmeans including a spring bladecarried externally by each side wal-l of the container and projecting apair ofrpins to 4positions on the opposite sides of each side portion ofsaid closure, and a stationary Wedge in the-path of each blade when thecontainer is elevated,` such wedge 'being effective to ex 'thecorresponding "blade outwardly rand Withdraw said-pins from saidpositions to clear the interior of the container.

8. The structure of claim 2, said second means including slot formationsin the top and hook formations in the bottom of said closure, and hookformations land slot formations in the-inner `side of thecrossheadfand'in the upward path `of said closure formations, thelatterengaging the crosshead formations When thecontainer-is elevated.

9. The structure of claim l, and relief valve means in such. other end.

10. AIn amachine -for extruding material of softmass consistency, aVcontainer for said material and designed to receive an elevationmovement, a stationary coverfor the container and adapted to be engagedby therim of the same on the elevation ofthe container, a;liftingplatform for the container underneath thesame, Walls rising from thelifting platform along the exterior of the container, an'arched tie barspanning the container walls transversely, and valplunger crosshead'mowablelaterally-n theconta'iner against said material and forcing the sameragainst'. thecovei',V thev cover loeing'recessed to sink said'tie barsto the extent ofclearingsaid crosshead.

11. A machine for extruding material Tof soft mass consistencycomprising in combination a base, a pistonand cylinderconstructionfmountedon said base,'a crosshead Aon said piston, acontainer for the material having one end thereofyremovable, meansfor-placingthe container end inproximity to the crOSShead, means to freethe endclosure from ltl'iecontain'er and mount the same on thecrosshead, a material outletat the opposite end of the container, andiluid means to operate Vthe crosshead and move the same including theend closure Vto force material outvof the container outlet.

ANTON G. WEIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 'of record'in thev file ofthis patent:

UNITED STAT-s 'PATENTS Number Name 'Date 789,012 lEdelmuth et al 'May 2,1905 903,006 Rowney Nov. 3, 1908 1,114,187 Sayer Oct. 20, 1914 1,119,353Jackson 'Dec. '1, 1914 2,235,727 Pearlman "Mar.`18, 1941 2,354,462Johnson July 25, 1944 2,427,202 Dryek et a-l. Sept. 9, 1947

